Wednesday, September 1, 2021

NJ/NY Area Event: Attention all Jazz Singers - Enter NJ PAC's Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition - UPDATED WITH 2021 WINNERS

 

Are you or do you know a talented and yet undiscovered jazz singer?

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) announces the opening of the 10th Annual Sarah Vaughan Competition. The search is on for the World’s Next Great Jazz Singer!

Phenomenal jazz singers can enter the contest here: Enter Here or visit njpac.org.

UPDATE:  
At a star-studded, sold-out performance held yesterday afternoon on the NJPAC stage, G. Thomas Allen (Chicago, IL) was announced the winner of the 10th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. This marks the first time a male vocalist won the contest.Hosted by NJPAC’s Jazz Advisor and multi-Grammy-winning bassist Christian McBride, “The SASSY Awards” featured performances by the competition’s five finalists as well as a special appearance by one of today’s top jazz vocalists, Dianne Reeves. 
 The contenders took to the stage with magnificent performances in front of a live audience. Winner G. Thomas Allen wowed the esteemed panel of judges with his rendition of “Misty”, a standard recorded by Sarah Vaughan in 1964. Andrea Miller (Costa Mesa, California) performed her rendition of “Bye Bye Blackbird”, April May Webb (Edison, NJ) sang “Social Call”, Latvian-born Arta Jēkabsone (Jersey City, NJ) sang “Gone with the Wind”, and Vik Gečytė (Paris, France) performed her rendition of “Lover Come Back to Me”.
 
As the first-prize winner of the SASSY Awards, G. Thomas Allen received a $5,000 cash award. April May Webb, who was the runner-up, was awarded a $1,500 cash prize, and third place recipient Arta Jēkabsonewon $500.

The Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition is open to solo vocalists of all nationalities and can be from anywhere in the world. Singers are judged on vocal quality, musicality, technique, performance, individuality, artistic interpretation, and ability to swing. They can’t be signed to a major record label.

This year, NJPAC will be celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition's 10th known as the "The SASSY Awards.” The special event will feature jazz greats Christian McBride and Dianne Reeves as co-hosts and guest performers. The competition showcases five yet-to-be-announced finalists of outstanding jazz singers. These gifted young contestants from around the world will be evaluated on vocal quality, musicality, technique, performance, individuality, artistic interpretation, and ability to swing. The winner receives a $5,000 cash prize. For anyone interested in participating the competition can visit njpac.org.
  
On a Wednesday night in 1942, Newark teenager Sarah Vaughan went to the Apollo Theater to compete in an amateur singing contest. It was the chance to win $10 and a weeklong engagement performing on the Apollo stage. Instead, Vaughan’s win launched a career that would transform America’s original art form and an icon who elevated the craft of jazz vocal music and garnered the respect and adoration of millions. Now, it’s time for history to repeat itself.

The deadline to enter is September 7, 2021 at 5:00PM
 
The Sarah Vaughan Jazz Competition is scheduled for Sunday, November 14, 2021, at 3PM.
  
For all info: www.NJPAC.org.